The Tragic Exchange: Truth for Lies, Christ for Barabbas
Romans 1:25 (NLT)
25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
Message
I. Exchanging the Creator for the Created (Romans 1:25 NLT)
How did humanity trade the truth about God for idols and lies?
Since Romans 1:21 NLT said, “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks…”, they became utter fools (Romans 1:22 NLT), and they worshipped idols (Romans 1:23 NLT). They desired and did shameful things (Romans 1:24 NLT). Today, v25a summarises the above and says, “They traded the truth about God for a lie.” They traded the Creator for the Creatures. They worshipped the things God created instead of the Creator himself (25b). Jeremiah declared this in Jeremiah 2:11-12 NLT.
11 Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones, even though they are not gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols!
12 The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the Lord.
II. Exchanging Jesus for Barabbas
How does humanity repeat the same tragic exchange today?
All four books of the Gospel record the event that people chose Barabbas instead of Jesus (John 18:39-40 NLT, Matthew 27:20-23 NLT, Mark 15:11-15 NLT, Luke 23:18-20 NLT). They traded Jesus for Barabbas! This event may sound accidental, but it clearly shows who we are and what we do.
They falsely accused Jesus, breaking the 9th commandment written in Deuteronomy 5:20 NLT. They condemned Him without two or three witnesses for each accusation, breaking Deuteronomy 19:15 NLT. They opened the trial at night to make the trial unfair, breaking Deuteronomy 16:18-20 NLT. They condemned the innocent, breaking Exodus 23:7 NLT. They rejected the Messiah, breaking Deuteronomy 18:15 NLT.
After all these violations, they chose a rebel to live and the Savior to die.
In fact, Barabbas represents sin, rebellion, and destruction, while Jesus represents truth, life, and salvation. When the people shouted for Barabbas, they were choosing sin instead of holiness, death instead of life, lies instead of truth.
This is not just their story; it is also our story. Every time we choose the world, selfish desire, or idols over God’s will and His Messiah, we repeat the same tragic exchange.
